Recently, actress Samantha Ruth Prabhu revealed on social media that she has been diagnosed with an autoimmune condition called myositis. Since then, concerned fans have been reaching out to the actress through social media. There is also a question that is arising in the minds of people that what is this autoimmune condition, is myositis fatal and what is its treatment? Check out Samantha’s post below:
Zee News Digital contacted Vivek Loomba, Consultant Pain Physician, Indian Spinal Injury Centre, New Delhi, Who talked to us about this:
What is myositis? what causes it?
The term “myositis” refers to a group of uncommon diseases that can make muscles weak, worn, and painful. Myositis simply refers to inflammation of the muscles indicating that there may be some inflammation or swelling. So any inflammation can cause myositis. Myositis can also be caused by a virus. People of any age, even children, can develop myositis. The shoulders, hips and thighs are the major muscles that are affected.
In addition to muscles, the skin, lungs, and heart can all be affected by myositis. Myositis can sometimes damage the muscles that control functions such as breathing and swallowing. Different myositis types exist. Dermatomyositis and polymyositis are the two most prevalent forms.
What are the symptoms of myositis?
The primary symptom of myositis is muscle weakness. Weakness related to myositis can cause falls and make it challenging to get out of a chair or even to stand after a fall. Additional signs and symptoms of inflammatory diseases include:
- rash
- swallowing and breathing challenges
- skin thickening on hands
- fatigue
Symptoms of a viral infection, such as runny nose, fever, cough, sore throat, or nausea and diarrhea, are often present in people with myositis brought on by the virus. However, the symptoms of a viral infection may disappear a few days or weeks before the symptoms of myositis appear.
When to see a doctor?
If you experience muscle weakness at any time, you should see a doctor. Myositis may be preceded by a viral infection. Therefore, any kind of rash, diarrhea or fever should not be taken lightly. Muscle weakness may develop later, sometimes after these initial symptoms have resolved. Antibodies start attacking normal muscles, causing muscle weakness.
How can it be controlled or treated?
Once the disease is diagnosed, it is treated with a combination of steroids, exercise, and immunosuppressant drugs. High doses of steroids (glucocorticoids) are the first-line treatment for patients with myositis.
Exercise has been proven to help prevent deterioration in quality of life by improving muscle strength and, thus, quality of life. It is recommended that physical exercise should be started as soon as the patient is able to exercise.
Immunosuppressant drugs are also used to treat myositis. These drugs stop your immune system from harming healthy cells and tissues. Rituximab is one such drug that has been shown to be beneficial. Several other drugs are in the testing phase.
Will this limit my life?
Myositis may cause progressive muscle weakness. These patients require constant support and supervision, and cannot be left to care for themselves. Even carrying out day-to-day tasks can be difficult unless some form of support is available. As a result, many daily activities may be restricted in these patients. This includes any sport, driving or even a walk in the park unless some help is available.
Could it be fatal?
Progressive muscular dysfunction can reduce the functional ability of patients with myositis. These patients may have a shorter lifespan compared to the general population. Interstitial lung disease is a major cause of death in these patients. Progressive difficulty swallowing can result in aspiration of foods into the lungs, which can result in lung infections, and eventually death. Repeated falls can also be caused by muscle weakness, and can lead to injury and death in patients with myositis.